How to clean Rust on Blackstone Griddle-Protect the Griddle!

Winter season is almost here, and it is time to pack up your griddle properly to prepare it for the next grilling season. Your griddle, however, is at risk of rusting while it is not in use.

Blackstone griddles have iron in them, and unfortunately, iron rusts. With the combination of moisture and oxygen, iron can rust easily when not used.

Unlike grills that you can just simply heat and scrape off the rust, Blackstone griddles need a deeper cleaning to remove the rust from the flat cooking surface.

You will need to scrub, clean, scrape, and heat the griddle to remove the rust. You might even need to re-season it to make sure that it does not gather up rust too easily again.

Blackstone griddles are subject to intense situations, including high heat, grease splatters, food residuals, and constant exposure to natural elements that eventually develop rust.

So when summer is approaching, and you notice some rust on your Blackstone griddle, can you cook on it directly? Or should you clean it first? If so, how? Let’s take a look.

What Is Rust, And How Do You Know Your Grill Is Rusted?

Rust is caused by an oxidation process where metal, water, and oxygen combine. This reaction and combination cause the reddish-flaky substance on most metal surfaces, which we call rust.

Rust is iron oxide, meaning your Blackstone griddle will likely gather rust since it is made from iron and other metal parts.

There are no harmful effects when you consume rust in small amounts, but it is certainly not pleasing. It can mess up the flavors of your recipe when you cook on a rusted surface.

Do not be fooled by the reddish color on your griddle, as most griddles develop this color from the high temperatures exposed to.

If the griddle surface is flaky with red powder-ish rust, then that is a clear indication that the griddle is rusty and needs to be cleaned before being used to cook again.

What Causes The Blackstone Griddle To Rust?

Aside from stainless steel, Blackstone griddles are also made with iron. Once iron reacts with oxygen and water, it starts to rust.

Your Blackstone griddle might be rusting because you either left it in an area exposed to water, it was not cleaned properly, and other reasons such as the following.

• You might have left your Blackstone griddle in an area exposed to moisture, such as a high-humidity storage room or a place exposed to morning dew.

• Storing the griddle outdoors is also one of the main reasons why it rusts. It can easily develop rust as it absorbs oxygen and moisture from the air.

• Covering the griddle right after cleaning it without letting it dry properly can cause the moisture to circulate and allow rust to develop.

• Storing the griddle indoors where you usually cook can also cause it to rust as it gathers moisture from the steam and water used.

• Cooking with acidic food, like lemons on your food, can also cause the iron on the griddle to corrode, allowing more moisture to enter the surface and cause it to rust.

• Another reason is the climate in your area. Houses near beaches are more likely to rust because of the high salt content from the breeze.

How To Clean Rust On Blackstone Griddle?

Luckily, we have a solution if your Blackstone griddle has rust on it. By cleaning it properly and storing it in the right place, your Blackstone griddle can easily get back to its cooking prowess.

When cleaning the griddle, ensure the right tools and equipment are to keep you and the griddle safe from any damage.

Here is what you will need to clean rust on your Blackstone Griddle:

• Metal scraper
• Cooking oil
• Paper towels
• Grill stones or steel wool
• Heat-resistant gloves

Follow These Steps:

Step 1: Heat Up The Griddle

Turn the Blackstone griddle on and set the temperature to high heat. Leave it there for 20 minutes to loosen the rust, so it gets easier to remove later.

While waiting, put on your heat-resistant gloves and prepare the other tools. After 20 minutes, turn the grill off and allow it to cool down.

Step 2: Scrape Off The Rust

Use your metal scraper and scrape off the rust from the griddle’s surface. Do this until you no longer see any corroding materials from the griddle surface.

The rust should still feel soft at this point. Repeat the process until you feel like the griddle surface has become smooth with no indentation and protruding rust from it.

Step 3: Scrub The Griddle

You do not need to use soap when cleaning rust off of your griddle. Simply drizzle 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil over the surface and then scrub with your grill stone.

If you do not have a grill stone, you can use steel wool or medium wet-or-dry sandpaper. Use a gentle circular motion when you are scrubbing the griddle to avoid scratching or damaging it.

It may take a while, but the griddle surface should be clean and shiny after a few minutes. 

Step 4: Wipe Off The Rust

Use paper towels to wipe off the oil and rust you have scrubbed. There is always a chance you will not get all the rust in just one wipe-down.

So drizzle another 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil over the griddle surface and then wipe it down again. Repeat the process until there are no traces of rust on the griddle.

Step 5: Season The Griddle

Season the griddle to create a protective layer before you cook on it. You can use any cooking oil for this process.

We’ll get into more detail about seasoning your griddle later in this post.

Step 6: Create Another Protective Layer

Drizzle another 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil over the griddle surface and then wipe it evenly with a cloth or paper towel to develop another layer that protects the griddle from air and moisture.

You can now cook on your Blackstone griddle or store it in a cool and dry place. As much as possible, use a cover to ensure that it does not absorb too much moisture.

How To Prevent Blackstone Griddle From Rusting?

So now that you are done cleaning the rust off your Blackstone griddle, the next step is to ensure that it does not gather rust again.

After cooking with the griddle, you should always store it properly and keep it dry to ensure that the iron does not interact with oxygen and moisture.

Here are some preventative measures you can take:

1. Season the Blackstone griddle regularly to ensure that the surface gets enough protective layer so air and moisture do not come into contact with the metal surface.

2. Always keep the griddle clean. After cooking, keep the heat on high to burn off any food residual on it and then simply scrape them towards the grease catcher.

3. Store the Blackstone griddle in a dry and cool place. Make sure that there is enough ventilation but also prevent moisture from getting to the griddle.

4. Use a dedicated core or a thick canvas to cover the griddle. Covering the griddle will prevent moisture from getting to it and protect it from other damages.

5. Regularly check your griddle. After a week without using the griddle, check and inspect it to ensure that rust has not developed.

It will be easier for you to clean the rust off during its early stages than when the rust has gone deeper into the griddle.

How To Season Your Blackstone Griddle?

Seasoning your Blackstone griddle helps it improve its cooking capabilities and protects it. It creates a non-stick surface so it can be cleaned easier as well.

Before you begin seasoning your Blackstone griddle, make sure that you have the following items ready:

• A bucket of water
• Heat-resistant gloves
• Paper towels
• Sponge 
• Salt
• Soap powder
• Stick
• Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Conditioner or Oil

Seasoning your Blackstone griddle:

Step 1: Clean The Griddle

Mix the powdered soap in the bucket of water thoroughly. Gently pour some of the water over the griddle and then scrub it with a soft sponge.

Rinse the griddle with fresh water until the soapy water is completely washed off the griddle. From here, make sure to wear your heat-resistant gloves.

Step 2: Heat Up The Griddle

Turn the Blackstone griddle on and then set the temperature to max heat. Allow the griddle to heat up for 10 to 15 minutes until the cooking surface begins to darken.

Once you see the griddle’s surface darken or change color, turn the heat off and proceed with the next steps.

Step 3: Drizzle The Oil

If you do not have the Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner, you can use oil to drizzle over the cooking surface of the griddle.

You can use any of the following:

• Canola oil
• Olive oil
• Flax oil
• Shortening
• Vegetable oil

Once you drizzle the oil over the griddle, use paper towels to spread the oil evenly. The key here is to create a thin layer of oil to burn the debris and develop a non-stick surface.

Step 4: Fire It Up Again

Turn the heat up on the griddle once again and wait until the surface starts to blacken. This is a sign that the heat is burning up the oil and embedding it into the griddle surface.

This part of the process is usually the longest and will take about 30 minutes. The griddle will let off a thin cloud of smoke which is called the “smoke point”.

I usually worry when I see this but it does not necessarily mean that the griddle is overheating, so you can take your time and wait until the oil is fully incorporated into the griddle.

Step 5: Repeat

A single heat-up process will not develop a non-stick surface. So repeat the process by drizzling the oil on the cooking surface and then heat the griddle up again.

Most of the time, my goal is for my griddle to have a dark brown color. Once it does, it means that it has enough layers of oil that the food I cook will hardly stick to it.

About 3 to 4 rounds of this part of the process should do the trick so it does take patience.

Step 6: Final Touches

After burning 3 to 4 layers of oil on the griddle, you can now allow the griddle to cool down a bit. Use another layer of oil and wipe it all over the griddle surface.

You can also use the Blackstone Non-stick Griddle Spray to protect the griddle from oxidation. Your griddle is now seasoned and you can enjoy cooking on it!

Note: Regularly cooking on the Blackstone griddle will help develop the non-stick coating and even season the griddle during cooking, so use it as much as you can.

How To Clean Messy Food Off A Griddle?

Even with a non-stick surface, there are stubborn food residuals that would stick to the griddle. This frustrates me a lot but luckily, I learned a few tricks to deal with it.

All you need to do is pyrolyze the food residues and scrape them off. Pyrolyzing is burning off debris so you can clean the griddle without using any chemicals.

You can also use a few drops of water to make the food residuals softer. This is perfect if you ware to deep-clean the griddle again.

Pyrolyzing The Griddle

Once you are done cooking and have some debris sticking to the griddle, you can clean them off using heat.

Turn the griddle to its maximum temperature and then let it burn the residuals for at least 30 minutes.

Once the stubborn food residuals are burnt to a crisp, use a spatula or a scraper to remove them from the griddle surface.

Push them to the grease catcher and then dispose of them properly. If messy food particles remain, you might need to clean them with soap and water.

Cleaning The Grill With Soap And Water

Just like the process above, mix powdered soap in a bucket of water and then use it to scrape off the food residuals on the griddle surface.

Make sure to use a soft sponge when scrubbing the residuals off, so you do not make indentations and scratches on the non-stick surface.

When you use soap, some of the seasoning or the layers of oil on the griddle surface will also be removed, so you might need to re-season the griddle after cleaning it.

After washing off the food particles, allow the griddle to dry and then season it to be ready for storing or cooking.

How To Take Care Of Blackstone Griddle?

Cleaning your Blackstone griddle is the key to maintaining its cooking capabilities and overall quality. Ensuring it does not develop rust and dust will keep the griddle in good condition.

1. Clean After Cooking

After every cooking session, make sure to clean the griddle properly. Let the griddle cool down and scrape off any remaining debris or food residue on the griddle surface.

Use a few drops of water on more stubborn debris while the griddle is still warm to remove them easier. Rinse the griddle and wipe off the moisture with paper towels.

After the griddle has dried, coat it with Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner or cooking oil to protect it further.

2. Avoid Chemicals

Using soap when cleaning the Blackstone griddle should be your last resort. If I can clean off any debris after cooking with just water, I do that and avoid soap as much as possible.

See, soap will only scrub off the non-stick layer of the griddle, so I make sure not to do that. That goes with other chemicals, especially strong ones like detergents and oven cleaners.

Not only can chemicals ruin the seasoning of the griddle, but they can also cause corrosion, resulting in even more rust on the griddle.

3. Avoid Abrasive Scrubbers

Using abrasive scrubbers like steel wool, sandpaper, and grill stones can cause scratches and dents on the griddle surface, an inviting area for food to be stuck in.

You should only use abrasive scrubbers when removing rust. The main point is to protect the cooking surface and limit any debris sticking to it.

Blackstone recommends using water and a Blackstone Scouring Pad when cleaning the griddle after cooking.

4. Storing The Griddle

Perhaps one of the most important parts of taking care of your Blackstone griddle is storing it with proper caution and making sure that it is stored in the right place.

Make sure not to pile anything on top of the cooking surface. Do not store any pointy and sharp materials with the griddle to avoid scratches on the cooking surface and the griddle body.

Store the Blackstone griddle in a cool and dry place. This prevents moisture from getting into the griddle and developing rust.

The storage area should also not be too hot, especially if using a propane tank to fuel the griddle.

Do a regular inspection to check if rust is developing on the griddle. That way, you can prevent irreversible damage from happening to the griddle.

How To Prevent A Griddle From Rusting During Storage?

If you have a garden shed, it is one of the best places to store the griddle in. Although Blackstone griddles are tough, they can easily develop rust when stored outdoors.

A garden shed or a garage can provide a cool place for the griddle to be stored in. If the griddle is stored in a cool place, it will prevent it from damping and gathering moisture.

Proper ventilation is also key to storing griddles to prevent rust. Temperature changes can develop rust, so ensure enough ventilation in the storage area.

Always clean the griddle before storing it to ensure it does not develop bacteria and cause more moisture that will develop rust.

• Use a cover to prevent moisture from getting into the griddle. 
• Seasoning the griddle before storing it is also essential to keep moisture out.
• Allow the griddle to dry completely before covering or storing it.
• A cool and dry place is always the best place to store the griddle.
• Never pile stuff on top of the griddle surface.
• Store in a place safe from rodents, especially when you do not plan on using the griddle anytime soon.
• Inspect and give the griddle a simple wipe-down while it is being stored.

Is It Safe To Grill On A Rusty Griddle Plate?

There is no serious harm if you grill on a rusty griddle plate, especially if it is just once in a while. There are no clear health risks from consuming rust in small quantities.

However, it does damage your health when too much rust gets into your system. So it is best to keep the griddle clean and ensure there is no rust before cooking.

Cooking on a rusted griddle is not appealing as, well. It can easily ruin the flavor and texture of the food by incorporating a metallic taste to the food.

So to keep the flavor of the recipe and prevent any health risks, keep the griddle as clean as possible before you cook on it.

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